Baby’s lips form during the fourth and seventh weeks of pregnancy. They begin growing from the sides, and connect in the middle. Those lines directly under your nose are evidence of your lips joining together to make a continuous lip. When they don’t join together, a cleft lip is the result. The hole in the lip can be on either side, but most commonly is near the center. Genetics can be a factor, but most often there are outside factors that contribute to the deformity occurring. Medications given during pregnancy can be one of those factors.

Zofran is a controversial drug that was created to help cancer patients manage their nausea during treatments. It works by suppressing the chemicals that are responsible for nausea and vomiting. However, it began being prescribed to expectant mothers for their morning sickness. There had not been research done about the use of this medication by pregnant women, and the FDA had not approved it for use by pregnant women for their morning illness.

The connections between Zofran and the development of cleft lips are still unclear, but Zofran lawyers are investigating the matter. Babies that suffer from cleft lips have a difficult time feeding properly and can suffer from poor nutrition and stunted growth. As they grow older, they can have difficulty speaking clearly. The only way to correct this deformity is through surgery early on in the child’s life. More than one surgery may be necessary, and this creates unnecessary pain and suffering for the child that could have been avoided.

Modern medicine has extended the lifespan of people considerably, and that includes drugs that address pain, infections, neurological conditions, and so on and so forth. Without modern pharmaceuticals, it would be very easy to die from conditions that we don’t even take seriously today. However, it is also undeniable that some drugs, especially prescription drugs, have serious side effects that are sometimes worse than the original condition is it designed to treat.

Take Depakote (divalproex sodium), for example. It manages epileptic seizures as well as some symptoms of bipolar disorder. Some studies associate it with increased cognitive abilities. However, as discussed on the website of law firm Williams Kherkher, it also causes serious side effects. Most particularly, Depakote should not be prescribed for pregnant women to treat migraine headaches as it is linked to higher risk of birth defects that include spina bifida, malformation of the skull and face, and brain defects.

Another drug that is causing issues with some patients is Risperdal (risperidone) which is prescribed to treat the symptoms of autism, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. It has also been prescribed for unapproved uses such as to manage symptoms of dementia in older patients. The website of the Risperdal lawyers from Williams Kherkher says that there have been documented instances where patients have developed adverse side effects including gynecomastia (development of breasts in males) and pancreatitis, among many other conditions.

It is unfortunate that these side effects should occur, but if doctors and patients are fully informed about them, then they can make an informed decision when weighing the pros and cons of taking prescription drugs. The failure of drug makers to give adequate warning, or even suppressing information that involves the safety of patients, is a serious breach of their duty of care.

If you have been seriously injured from using dangerous drugs because you were not fully informed about the possible consequences, you may have a claim against the drug manufacturer. However, engaging a big drug company in a legal battle can be difficult. Find an experienced dangerous pharmaceuticals lawyer in your state to take up the cudgels for you.

If you own mineral rights, there are many possibilities open to you. You can keep it, lease it, or sell it. However, no one really knows if your mineral rights are worth anything until you start digging, so it is pretty much a gamble whatever you do. This is especially true if your mineral rights are in a location known for rich deposits of an industrially valuable commodity such as oil or natural gas.

If you keep it to yourself, there is a chance that you can make more money later on if it turns out you are sitting on a gold mine, sometimes literally! But, the converse is also true. If it turns out that you have nothing, then the value goes down to zero.

If you lease or sell the rights, you are taking a chance that you have agreed to terms that are not advantageous to you. For example, if you lease it for an X amount annually, and agree to so much in royalty fees, you are tied to that for the duration of the lease even as the developer mines millions. The same will apply when selling your mineral rights. The big difference between leasing and selling is that with selling, you can get a big amount of cash right then and there. You will also never have to worry about keeping track of rental fees and royalty checks.

Of course, you could be losing out on a fortune when you sell. On the other hand, you could be getting a lot of money for mineral rights that turn out to be a bust. The trick is to sell at the right amount to the right buyer so that the chances that you will lose out are smaller. Companies such as The Mineral Auction in Austin, Texas lets you put your mineral rights up for bids to legitimate buyers. The beauty of it is that you do not have to sell them to the highest bidder if you don’t feel like you’re getting what you want.

Texas is death on drunk drivers, especially with emotions running high after a drunk driver recently killed a single mother and her two young sons. However, being arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI) and subsequently charged is not a conviction. This is an important distinction when considering its impact on the defendant’s life and career.

Texas has some of the most stringent DWI laws in the US, and according to the website of the Law Offices of Mark T. Lassiter, even first offenders can find themselves paying hefty fines and spending time in jail. The worst thing, however, is that those facing DWI charges for the first time may not realize that they are on the brink of getting a criminal record.

First-time DWI offenders are charged with a Class B misdemeanor. It is less serious than a felony but it is nonetheless a criminal offense. It is something that will follow them for the rest of their lives and close doors to many opportunities in education, careers, even public office. A DWI conviction can also make them a subject of discrimination when it comes to social encounters. No one wants to be associated with a convicted criminal.

It is important for people facing DWI charges to take the situation seriously, especially if they have previous DWI charges and convictions. An article on the website of Ian Inglis points out that a defendant failing to secure proper representation in DWI charges is likely to get more severe punishment. They should get the best DWI attorney they can find to defend them from DWI charges.

If you are facing DWI charges, the first thing you have to do is to get a criminal defense attorney in Texas with a good track record in defending their clients. It is the best way to avoid severe consequences.

We have all had a bad hair day at one point, and that’s a bummer. There is the salon solution, of course, but who has the time and money to do that every day? According to the website of Therapy Hair Studio in Houston, a great cut from an experienced stylist can go a long way towards making every day a good hair day. However, here are some tips you may want to follow to take it a step further to fabulous.

Avoid caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and processed food. These can give you a boost of energy but then you come crashing down. This will reflect in dank, lifeless hair not to mention a general air of fatigue. Not attractive.

Choose color. Colorful food (natural, not artificially dyed) usually contain antioxidants that are great for battling environmental stresses and keep your hair and face looking vibrant. Green and orange are particularly good colors when it comes to vegetables, so keep that in mind.

Exercise. Get your blood going by exercising at least 30 minutes a day. Your hair will perk right up. You should also tone up those muscles for an overall attractive look.

Drink lots of water. Your hair relies on the scalp, which needs hydration, to stay bouncy. Drink at least 8 glasses of H2O or green tea a day and you are on your way!

Protein up. You muscles are made up of protein, and hair production requires a good amount of it as well. Don’t neglect your lean meat, chicken, fish, and legumes in your daily diet.

Pamper with oils. Some oils make the skin more elastic, and protects hair follicles from drying out under the assault of heat, cold, sun, and wind. Consider eating more salmon or other oily fish, walnuts, and avocado. You can also apply coconut oil directly to your scalp and hair as conditioning treatment.

Brush up. Brushing your hair stimulates the scalp. This can make your hair look and feel healthy. You should also dry brush your skin with a natural bristle brush to slough off dead skin cells and improve circulation.

According to the Illinois Workers Compensation Commission, the rate of work-related injury in Illinois is 66% lower in 2011 compared to two decades ago. There were 3,201 injuries per 100,000 workers associated with workplace accidents in that year, compared to 9,539 in 1990. The breakdown for these injuries includes medical only (2,138), temporary total disability (505), permanent partial disability (554), permanent total disability (1), and fatal (2). The actual number of fatal accidents for 2011 is 177 compared to 260 in 1992.

This is good news in terms of cold numbers; not so good for those who are actually injured or die. A Champaign workers’ compensation lawyer would be aware of how even missing a work for a couple of weeks can be a serious problem for many employees. Fortunately, workers’ compensation insurance pays for their medical expenses and lost days of work. That is, if the employer or insurance does not dispute the claim.

Worker’s comp is supposed to protect workers from the consequences of workplace accidents on a no-fault basis, so you would imagine that employers would have no reason to deny a claim. However, insurance companies increase the premiums of an employer that process claims, so the employer is motivated to deny workers’ comp claims as much as possible. According to the website of Ravid and Associates, making workers’ comp claim is a complex process. You can be denied benefits simply for making an incomplete report or that the accident happened off-site, although you were on company business. The employer will seize on any excuse to deny your claim.

It can be frustrating when this happens, but you do have legal options. Consult with a workers’ comp lawyer in Illinois or whatever state you are in when your claim is denied. It can make a lot of difference on your chances of getting the benefits you are entitled to.

Most car accidents are due to the action of an individual such as speeding, or failing to stop, or drunk driving. In such cases, it is easy to pinpoint responsibility and possibly civil liability. However, when an accident occurs because there was a huge pothole on the road, or there was ongoing roadwork with inadequate warning signs, it gets more complicated.

Road maintenance usually involves the government in some capacity, so if the road is in poor condition and causes an accident, the government entity in charge is liable for any injuries and damages. However, an Iowa car accident attorney probably is aware that poor roads do not automatically mean the government entity is responsible for vehicle accidents.

The entity maintaining a particular road is not watching it all the time, so there may instances when the road is damaged or blocked and the government entity does not know, or has not had time to do repairs. In such cases, the government may not be liable for vehicle accidents. However, if the government entity does not know but the damage has been around long enough that it should have known, then liability may exist.

Motorcycle riders are particularly vulnerable to such accidents because they tend to go fast even on bad roads and have less time to react to a sudden obstacle. An article on the website of the Pete Leehey Law Firm, P.C. points out that most victims of motorcycle accidents sustain serious injuries. With no one to put the blame on, that can be catastrophic.

In order to make a claim against the government for vehicle accidents due to road conditions, you will have to report it to the local county commissioner to find out who may be liable for your injuries. You will also have to get around sovereign immunity issues, if any. Ask a personal injury lawyer in your state about sovereign immunity and how it may affect your claim.